Volcanoes split wins, losses

Salem-Keizer’s Brennan Metzer takes a cut in his first at-bat during the Volcanoes’ game Tuesday, Aug. 21. Metzger ended up striking out. (KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald)

By HERB SWETTFor the Keizertimes

Aug. 15: Volcanoes 13, Hawks 5

Resuming their powerhouse attack, the Volcanoes ended their series at Boise with a win that included five home runs.

Mac Williamson hit two homers and Joe Rapp, Stephen Yarrow and Andrew Cain one each. The Hawks, who were ahead 4-3 after four innings, got a home run each from Albert Almora and Rock Shoulders.

The Volcanoes scored three of their runs in the sixth inning and four in the eighth.

Steven Okert was the winning pitcher in relief, and Mason McVay had his first save as a Volcano. Hunter Ackerman was the losing pitcher in relief.

Aug. 16: Volcanoes 3, Emeralds 2

Tyler Mizenko’s clutch pitching saved a Salem-Keizer lead in the opening game of a road series with the rival Emeralds.

The Volcanoes led all the way. A double by Andrew Cain drove in Joe Rapp in the first inning, and Rapp hit his 10th home run with Kentrell Hill on base.

Eugene threatened in the sixth inning, when a single by Maxx Tissenbaum scored Corey Adamson and Alberth Martinez. The Ems threatened again in the ninth, when wild pitches put runners on second and third, but Mizenko struck out the last hitter.

Starter Joan Gregorio evened his record at 6-6, and Mizenko got his ninth save. Eugene starter Will Scott took the loss.

Aug. 17: Emeralds 5, Volcanoes 4

The Emeralds evened the series by generally outplaying the Volcanoes, who made two errors to none for Eugene.

Ryan Jones tied the score at 2-2 in the fifth inning by hitting the first home run of his professional career with Stephen Yarrow on base. Salem-Keizer added one run each in the seventh and ninth, but Eugene scored twice in the eighth, largely because of a balk and then a throwing error by relief pitcher Stephen Johnson.

Johnson’s record ran to 0-2. The winning pitcher, also in relief, was Roman Madrid, now 5-0.

Aug. 18: Emeralds 3, Volcanoes 2

Salem-Keizer blew a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Eugene the rubber game of the series.

The Volcanoes scored their runs in the first. Brennan Metzger walked and scored on a double by Rapp. Mitchell Delfino singled Rapp home.

Joe Church was the winning pitcher and Randall Ziegler the loser, both in relief.

Aug. 19: Canadians 3, Volcanoes 0

The left-on-bases problem gave the visiting Canadians the win in this series opener, in which Salem-Keizer outhit Vancouver 8-7.

Each Volcano in the Volcanoes’ lineup except Dashenko Ricardo got one hit. Kyle Anderson, Vancouver’s starting and winning pitcher, scattered six of the hits. Lorenzo Mendoza, the Salem-Keizer starter, took the loss but had seven strikeouts.

In the Canadian second, Dwight Smith drove in Matt Newman with a double. The other runs came on successive homers by Kellen Sweeney and Balbino Fuenmayor in the sixth.

The Volcanoes threatened in the eighth with a two-out double steal, Kentrell Hill going to third base and Mitchell Delfino to second, but Andrew Cain then struck out.

Aug. 21: Volcanoes 3, Canadians 0

Joan Gregorio overcame his sixth-inning problem to lead the way to Salem-Keizer’s first shutout victory of the season.

Gregorio, now 7-6, got relief help from Keith Bilodeau and Tyler Mizenko, with Mizenko achieving his 10th save of 2012. Chuckie Jones provided the offense with a three-run homer in the sixth inning.

With two out in the Volcano sixth and Mitchell Delfino and Andrew Cain on base, Jones hit the ball over the left field fence.

Only one Vancouver player reached third base, and that was on a double play in the ninth. Bryan Longpre was the losing pitcher in relief.